Today's stage is a constant up and down through the high mountains of the Savoie and Haute-Savoie. Five classified climbs are on the menu from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand: the Cormet de Roselend (18 km at 6.1 percent), the Col des Saisies (15.1 km at 6 percent), the Côte d'Arâches (6.3 km at 7 percent), the Col de Romme (8.8 km at 8.9 percent) and the Col de la Colombière (7.5 km at 8.5 percent).

The last two climbs will be the most difficult as the ascent to the Colombière will be spiced up by the Col de Romme climb, which makes its first appearance in the Tour. Lance Armstrong took his third consecutive stage win in Le Grand-Bornand in 2004, and Germany's Linus Gerdemann won there in 2007 to take the yellow jersey. This will be a hard, long day for any rider in the peloton.